"This... how... how is this possible?! That was a Nine-Star Beast!!!"
Everyone was stunned.
Nine-Star Beasts—these were considered the most powerful monsters within the Forest of Monsters as far as humans were concerned. Each one was a lord of its domain. Though a few Nine-Star Swordsmen had managed to slay them, it was always after battles where they narrowly escaped death.
"Who is he?!"
Clay was shocked to see Kaien Blaze kill the Three-Headed Icebird in a single strike. It was bad enough when that freak Yoriichi showed up, but now another monster had appeared? Just how many monsters existed in this world?
"No idea!"
Many of the people present had never seen Kaien before—they had no idea who he was.
"I know! I know! He's Mr. Kaien Blaze, Miss Erza's companion!"
The one shouting was the same guard who'd questioned Kaien and Erza at the city gate the day before. After witnessing Erza defeat a Five-Star Blazing Razorback with ease, he'd been deeply impressed by the two. After watching today's tournament broadcast and seeing Erza's performance, he'd become a full-blown fanboy. Naturally, he remembered her companion too.
"Miss Erza's companion?! Then he must be a mage from Fairy Tail."
Now that Erza had made a name for herself in the Swordmaster Tournament, more information about her had spread: she was a mage from the guild Fairy Tail in the Kingdom of Fiore.
"That's amazing!!"
The king was visibly excited. Out of the original nine Nine-Star Beasts, one had just fallen. Only eight remained. There was hope.
The remaining Nine-Star Beasts now eyed Kaien with great caution. The stronger the beast, the greater its intelligence—and they had all sensed a deadly threat.
Kaien's body dropped freely from the top of the city wall.
Swoosh—!!
He spread his wings, shooting toward the nearest beast—the Hellfire Tiger.
The Hellfire Tiger roared in fury as it saw Kaien charging at it.
"ROAAAAR—!!"
Its roar shook the heavens, and blazing flames erupted around its body.
Swoosh!
A Sword appeared in Kaien's hand as he thrust it forward.
The Hellfire Tiger opened its jaws and unleashed a pillar of raging fire at him.
The fire engulfed Kaien's entire figure.
"Kaien!!!"
Erza's eyes widened in alarm. The others thought he was done for—Hellfire Tiger's flames could melt solid steel like butter.
BOOM—!!
To everyone's shock, Kaien burst through the flames.
Squelch—!
The Sword pierced into the Hellfire Tiger's eye.
"ROAAAAR!!"
The beast howled in agony.
It fought through the pain and swung a massive claw at Kaien, trying to smash him.
Squelch—!
Kaien swung his sword.
Thud!
The tiger's huge arm was sliced off and fell to the ground.
"ROAAAAAR!!"
It screamed again in unbearable pain.
Sonido!
Kaien vanished, reappearing behind the Hellfire Tiger's head.
"You're too noisy."
He spoke indifferently.
Squelch!
The Sword went straight through the beast's skull.
Its screams stopped instantly.
Boom!!!
The massive body collapsed, completely lifeless.
"He… he's dead…?! Even the Nine-Star Hellfire Tiger is dead?!!"
Everyone was stunned by Kaien's display. How long had it been? Ten seconds? Fifteen? Definitely less than twenty seconds.
From the moment Kaien appeared until now…
Two Nine-Star Beasts had been slain in under twenty seconds.
Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they'd have thought it was a dream. Since when were Nine-Star Beasts slain like chickens? No—this was faster than slaughtering a chicken.
"That was incredible!!"
Though still shocked, the crowd erupted into cheers. When the other five beasts had shown up earlier, they'd nearly fallen into despair. But Kaien's overwhelming performance had reignited their hope.
"ROAAAAR!!"
Kaien's slaughter of two Nine-Star Beasts instantly made the remaining ones feel like their lives were in danger. They abandoned their current opponents and charged at Kaien.
They knew—if they didn't eliminate this man, none of them would survive.
"This is bad!!"
Seeing the beasts abandon their opponents and target Kaien all at once, everyone's faces changed.
But Kaien's expression didn't waver.
He flapped his wings and took the initiative to meet them.
"ROAR—!"
The Earthquake Bear slammed its palms into the ground.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!
The ground trembled violently. Countless earth spikes shot up from beneath, aiming straight for Kaien.
BOOM—!!
A Sword shot out from the forest of spikes, shattering them one by one.
Squelch—!
It stabbed into the Earthquake Bear's chest. The blade only pierced its hide—a superficial wound. But upon seeing the Sword, the bear's eyes filled with terror.
"Explode."
Kaien said coldly.
BOOM—!!
A massive explosion engulfed the bear.
"ROOAAAAAR!!"
It screamed in pain.
Whoosh!
The Black Panther King appeared behind Kaien like a ghost—silent and deadly. Its jaws opened to bite him from behind.
"Look out!!!"
Kaien spun around quickly—but his arm was already clamped between the beast's fangs.
"It's over!"
Everyone watching thought his arm was done for.
But Kaien said flatly, "No one ever told you not to eat random stuff?"
Buzz—!!
A brilliant black light shone from between the panther's teeth.
The beast sensed something was wrong and tried to flee.
"Too late."
"Cero Oscuras!"
Zing—!
A dark beam of light blasted out from the back of the Black Panther King's skull.
BOOM—!!
The black blast exploded into the crowd of monsters behind them, creating a massive blast zone.
"ROAAAAR!!"…
Numerous beasts were obliterated, and the Forest of Monsters was carved open by a wide channel of destruction.
A circular hole had blown through the back of the Black Panther King's head. It was dead—completely and utterly.
At that moment, the Mammoth King—another Nine-Star Beast—charged at Kaien. Its massive trunk whipped toward him.
Kaien raised an arm to block.
He instantly felt a terrifying force crash into him.
BOOOOM—!!
The ground beneath his feet exploded violently, and shockwaves rippled outward in all directions, tearing the land apart.
After a while, the dust cleared.
Just when the crowd thought Kaien had been smashed into pulp...
The smoke faded—and Kaien still stood where he was, arm raised, having completely blocked the Mammoth King's strike.
Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief.
"He… actually took that head-on?!!"